Chapter 499: The Song Family's Quarrel! All Hope!

Because the Global Genius Exchange Tournament is a competition open to the entire world,

all participating contestants' weapons were subject to unified restrictions.

Alloy weapons and battle suits could not exceed Grade S, and elemental weapons could not exceed Advanced.

The virtual world possessed an extremely vast armory.

Even if one couldn't find a suitable weapon, one could construct one on their own.

After confirming the effects of the Extreme Glare Jiyao Jiyao Lei Huan, Xu Jingming once again entered the virtual world and began to finalize his weapons.

First was a melee weapon—he constructed a long spear whose effects were identical to the Flowing Cloud Golden Edge Spear.

In addition, there was the Extreme Glare Jiyao Jiyao Lei Huan.

The virtual world's armory did not contain such an elemental weapon.

Therefore, he could only choose to construct it himself.

The reconstructed Extreme Glare Jiyao Jiyao Lei Huan looked no different from the one in reality.

However, because it was only an Advanced elemental weapon, its amplification of abilities could only reach about 35%.

The stored abilities were also only about twice the total amount.

But for Xu Jingming himself, it was already enough.

While Xu Jingming was familiarizing himself with his weapons in the virtual world, the Song family of Chuan Province was in a tense atmosphere.

"Second Brother, have you thought over the matter of the marriage alliance?"

In the top-floor conference room of the grand Huiyang Equipment Building, the real-power figures of the Song family had gathered.

Among them was Song Qiuyun's father, the current head of the Song family, Song Feng.

As well as Song Qiuyun's eldest uncle, the Song family's second-in-command, Song Zhan.

The one who spoke was Song Zhan.

He stared fixedly with a pair of eyes at Song Feng across the conference table and asked in a low voice.

The others around the conference table also turned their gazes over.

Some wore worried expressions, while others faintly wore looks of watching a good show.

"I've thought it over. I disagree." Song Feng swept his gaze around the room and said calmly.

"Is it you who disagrees, or Xiao Yun who disagrees?" Song Zhan raised an eyebrow and asked again.

"It's me who disagrees. I haven't told Xiao Yun's side." Song Feng said in a heavy voice.

"You didn't even tell her? Patriarch, you can't possibly not know what situation we're in right now, can you?"

Song Zhan snorted coldly and said sharply:

"A month ago, Grandfather passed away, and our Song family's influence greatly diminished.

From that moment until now, our Song family's industries have been swallowed up by 20% one after another!

Direct losses amount to tens of trillions!

If this continues, our Song family's industries will at the very least wither down to only 50%!

Now the ninth-grade Wang family is willing to lend us a hand and help us get through this difficulty.

The condition is merely for you to marry Xiao Yun off to their family's Wang Mang—and you don't even have the thought of informing her?

Is that how you serve as patriarch?!"

At these words, the whole room instantly fell silent, and everyone instinctively looked toward the patriarch, Song Feng.

"Merely marry Xiao Yun off to him?"

Song Feng was nearly amused into laughter. "What kind of disposition that wastrel Wang Mang is, can we not know?

How could I personally push Xiao Yun into a bonfire?

Besides, Xiao Yun herself would never agree to this matter.

Also, don't forget—Xiao Yun's boyfriend is that very Xu Jingming!"

Marriage alliances between families were originally a very common occurrence among ability-user families.

Especially at this critical moment when the Song family's pillar has passed away, if a ninth-grade ability-user family were willing to extend a helping hand, their situation would be much better.

Some time ago, it was the Wang family of Extreme Wing Heavy Industries that came to them.

They demanded that his daughter Song Qiuyun be married off to Wang Mang, and then they would step in to help.

If it were someone else, he might have agreed—after all, the other party was a ninth-grade ability-user family.

But Song Qiuyun's talent was outstanding; at only 20 years old she was already a third-grade mid-tier ability-user.

It wasn't even certain that she might subsequently break through to an eighth-grade peak Master Zongshi, or even a ninth-grade Wu Sheng.

Song Feng naturally could not make her a sacrificial pawn for a political marriage.

More critically, Song Qiuyun also had Xu Jingming, a boyfriend who had awakened an SS-grade ability, as her partner.

"So what about Xu Jingming? I admit his talent is good.

But he is still far from being able to stand on his own.

And he and Xiao Yun aren't even married yet—he simply cannot bring the slightest bit of help to our Song family!

Yet Wang Mang can bring us real, tangible benefits!"

Song Zhan lifted an eyelid and retorted.

"Short-sighted!"

Song Feng roared and berated loudly:

"Eldest Brother, if Xu Jingming grows up, our Song family will benefit along with him!

Besides, have you thought about it—if I really did as you demanded,

once Xu Jingming grows up, how should our Song family conduct itself?"

An SS-class ability awakener who has grown up can be called terrifying!

Moreover, he didn't think Xu Jingming was the type of person who could tolerate having his love torn apart.

"So you're betting the Song family's future on a 20-year-old brat who still smells of his mother's milk?

Whether your little Yun can stay with him to the end is still uncertain! How utterly foolish!"

Song Zhan no longer looked at Song Feng, directly stood up, turned and left, "Second brother, I'll give you one more month. If you still don't agree to this condition,

then we'll ask the Elder Council to decide and split the family directly..."

Rustle rustle—

As the words fell, nearly half of the Song family members in the entire conference room stood up and left together.

"Second brother, how did big brother become like this..."

Beside Song Feng, a man in his early thirties whose appearance bore some resemblance to him stared blankly at this scene.

He was Song Feng's younger brother Song Hai, and also the youngest of Song Feng's generation.

"Ever since breaking through to an eighth-rank Master Zongshi, big brother has long had the idea of taking charge.

Now it's just that with grandfather's passing, it's gradually being exposed." Song Feng snorted coldly.

The head of a family is usually the eldest legitimate son.

The reason the current head of the Song family is him, the second brother, is simply because his martial arts talent was excellent and he was the first to break through to eighth rank.

And big brother Song Zhan, after breaking through to eighth rank in recent years, has been making little moves nonstop.

Now he's completely exposing his ambition!

Does Song Zhan not know the consequences of offending Xu Jingming? He not only knows, but knows very clearly.

The reason he demanded this of him was also because he guessed that he wouldn't agree.

Thus ultimately satisfying his demand to split the family, nothing more.

"Grandfather has only been dead for a month, and he's already this impatient?

If he wants to split the family, then split it. Just lie low like this.

Once Xu Jingming grows up, my branch will also return to its peak."

Song Feng's gaze grew profound.

Although he had broken through to an eighth-rank mid-position Master Zongshi, his potential was basically exhausted, and his martial arts path had reached its end.

No other exceptionally talented individuals had appeared among the rest of the Song family.

The entire Song family, including him, only had three eighth-rank Grand Masters.

There was simply no way to lead the Song family further, and even maintaining their current position couldn't be done.

Now, he could only place all his hopes on Xu Jingming.

Of course, this doesn't mean Xu Jingming will definitely break through to become an eighth-rank Master Zongshi or ninth-rank Wu Sheng in the future.

It's just that judging from the current rate of advancement, the probability is very high.

Once Xu Jingming breaks through to eighth-rank Master Zongshi, and marries Song Qiuyun,

then restoring the influence of grandfather Song Daoyuan's era, or even going further, is not impossible...